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My special guest today is fantasy novelist Lynette Creswell. Lynette is the author of Sinners of Magic . She is currently on the verge of publishing her second novel Betrayers of Magic with the third book of her trilogy already underway.

Jean: Hi Lynette.

Lynette: Hi Jean, first of all can I just say thank you for inviting me to do an interview with you. It was lovely to have the invite although I’ve been a very busy bee these last few weeks moving house so although I am a little frazzled, I hope you find my answers interesting.

Jean: It is my pleasure to have you with us today. I know you’ve been very busy getting ready for the release of your second novel while working on the third novel in addition to moving. Thanks again for taking the time to chat with us today. Please tell us about your soon to be released book Betrayers of Magic.

Lynette: Ok, well, as you know I am getting ready to publish my second novel Betrayers of Magic which should be out to buy at the beginning of March. The book is a sequel to Sinners of Magic, and I have to say I am very excited about it. (I have added the taster chapters above so you can have a sneaky peek). This second book continues the magical story of Crystal and her rather unconventional family, but this time there is a new character, an apprentice to the Royal Circle of Mages called Niculmus DeGrunt who is about to well and truly set the cat amongst the pigeons.

Jean: That sounds very interesting. I enjoyed Harry Potter and Lord of The Rings, as did many adults. What audience are you trying to target as far as age group goes?

Lynette: I’m trying to target everyone! Seriously that’s my plan. Although some might say it is for young adults (main due to the fantasy genre), I’m finding my readers are all ages which I think is fantastic and is something I would most definitely like to build on as this story is for everyone who loves adventure and of course, magic …

Jean: What inspired or motivated you to write?

Lynette: When I was a small child, my only escapism was reading, and I have always loved how a great story can grab your attention in seconds and somehow enable your brain to forget everything which exists around you. There are many amazing authors out there, but for me writers such as Charles Dickens, Hans Christian Anderson and Enid Blyton had the most amazing ability to draw my young mind into their worlds, and I think my respect and admiration for them made me want to try to become a writer too.

From my earliest recollections I can remember always having a very vivid imagination (too vivid for my own good at times) and I found that in my English classes, I was always at my happiest when I was given the opportunity to write a story. I would go home and lose myself within my own ideas working right through the evening until it was my bedtime, and I would be so excited the next morning about sharing what I had written with my teachers. As I grew older I began to write plays for my drama class, and I don’t think I stopped writing until I got married and had my own children.

Jean: I understand that. It is difficult to write when you work and have small children. Outside of writing a bestseller, what would be the ultimate goal that would make you feel you have succeeded as a writer?

Lynette: I think I would love to win a writing award and have an acknowledgement inside one of my books.

Jean: Why do you write?

Lynette: I write because I love to!

Jean: That’s the best reason I can think of . Do you have a set time of day you write or do you just work it into your schedule whenever possible?

Lynette: If I had my own way I would probably write 24/7 but unfortunately my job and my husband would soon put a stop to that! I usually write about four hours a day (if I’m lucky) and which feels like four minutes! I also try to steal time (usually from my husband) this is at weekends when I encourage him to go out and play golf, walk the dog, go to the pub or anything I can think of that will bide me extra writing time. Looking back on that last sentence, I’m thinking that perhaps I am giving out the impression I am addicted to writing? - Well, okay, maybe I am, just a little bit!

Jean: But what a great habit! Who is your favorite author and what genre do you usually read?

Lynette: I don’t actually have a favorite author anymore, and I read all sorts of genres. But I do love Nora Roberts, Stephen King and Dean Kootz for all the paranormal, suspense and heart racing stuff. I go through phases you see, and although I write fantasy novels, I like to read non-fiction too.

Jean: Wow. It seems we have much in common. You just listed some of my favorite authors. In my Faulkner’s Curse series, I feel, or should I say I hope, it conveys similarities in style of the great Dean Koontz.

Jean: What are you reading now?

I’ve got two books on the go, The Hobbit by J.R. Tolkien and The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton.

Jean: The Hobbit is such a charming book. What are some of your hobbies or passions besides writing?

Lynette: My only other passion other than writing is my family and when you can pry my fingers away from the keyboard, I do enjoy a little photography and the occasional spurt of dancing.

Jean: What type of music do you listen to?

Lynette: I am still a little pop princess at heart and I love to listen to the top 40. I buy a lot the compilation CD’s as I don’t think I’ve actually grown up and still believe I’m a teeny bopper.

Jean: What is your favorite movie?

Lynette: That is a very difficult question to answer. I’m such a girl! So probably the film, Love Actually but one of my all time top favorites has to be: The Shawshank Redemption.

Jean: The Shawshank Redemption is an excellent movie. Also one of my favorites by Stephen King. Tell us about your writing style and any guidelines you go by while writing.

Lynette: I don’t think I have a style of writing although perhaps my readers will disagree? My guidelines are simple – make the story interesting, surprise your reader when they least expect it and have a good ending, (hopefully I have achieved all three in both books).

Jean: Great guidelines. What advice would you give if someone told you that he/she would like to write a book?

Lynette: I would say – go for it! Firstly though, try and find a mentor if possible who will help and guide you along the way. I mean let’s face it; couldn’t we all have done with someone who was willing to help us when we first set out on this rather rocky road? I know I would have found it invaluable to have someone who could have pointed out certain facts to me like the difference between mainstream publishing and self-publishing and who could have told me how hard marketing my own book would be. However, I have to say that no one could have ever prepared me for how awesome I felt when I received my first 5 ***** star review!

Jean: I agree the marketing is the toughest part of writing. But what a feeling to receive a five star review!

Thank you so much for joining us today. It has been great getting to know you better.

Lynette was born in London, England, but raised in Burnley, Lancashire. After writing several short stories for children, Lynette decided to write something a little more substantial and so her first novel Sinners of Magic was born. Her love of fantasy stemmed from books from her childhood such as Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree and The Wishing Chair. The Harry Potter films gave her great inspiration and courage.

Her second novel Betrayers of Magic sees Crystal returning to the Kingdom of Nine Winters where those in high power deem the princess to be nothing more than an abomination against their ways and a disgruntled magician begins to take matters into his own menacing hands …

Lynette is now about to embark on the final part of the trilogy which she has named Defenders of Magic and hopes that the book will be finished by the end of the year.